Germany ‘carefully examining’ implications of ICC warrants
Germany’s government has now officially commented on the ICC warrants for Israel’s Netanyahu and Gallant, saying it would “carefully examine” potential domestic measures to take in response but noting it will not take further steps until a visit to the country is planned.
In a statement, government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit said Germany, which helped draft the ICC Statute, remains one of the court’s “biggest supporters”. However, he also stressed that as “a consequence of German history … we have a unique relationship and a great responsibility to Israel”.
Separately, Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said Germany was “bound by” the ICC ruling and would examine what it means “for implementation in Germany”. As for whether German authorities would move to arrest Netanyahu or Gallant were they to visit the country, the matter is currently “theoretical”, Baerbock said.
Germany, a close ally of Israel, has itself fended off international legal challenges related to its support for Israel. Earlier this year, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled against Nicaragua’s bid for it to order Germany to halt arms sales to Israel.
German arms delivery policy to Israel ‘unchanged’ after ICC arrest warrants
The German government’s position on delivering weapons to Israel is “unchanged” despite the ICC’s arrest warrants, according to a spokesperson quoted by the Reuters news agency.
“Arms deliveries to Israel are always subject to a case-by-case assessment, and that remains the case now,” the spokesperson said. “Our attitude towards Israel remains unchanged.”
Dutch district court hears case on weapons transfers to Israel
Pro-Palestinian groups have taken the Dutch state to court, urging a halt to arms exports to Israel and accusing the government of failing to prevent what they termed a “genocide” in Gaza.
They argue that the Netherlands, a staunch ally of Israel, has a legal obligation to do everything in its power to stop violations of international law and the 1948 United Nations Genocide Convention, in the Gaza Strip and the occupied West Bank.
“Today, the plaintiffs are here to hold the Dutch state accountable for failing to comply with international law by failing to intervene against violations of the rights of the Palestinian people committed by the state of Israel,” Wout Albers, a lawyer representing the coalition, said at a civil court in The Hague.
“Israel is guilty of genocide and apartheid” and “is using Dutch weapons to wage war”, Albers added.
Al Jazeera’s Step Vaessen, reporting from outside the court, said their demands build off of previous decisions by the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which earlier this year ruled that the occupation of Palestine is illegal.
The International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrants issued yesterday against Israel’s Netanyahu and Gallant are expected to add more weight to this case, Vaessen said.
